| Fort Pulaski, Night Mch 30th
{1862} |
| |
| My Dear Sister
{Emily Hepzibah Sims Payne} |
| I will doubtless gratify
you to hear that I am well and in as good spirits as could be expected
under all the depressing circumstances by which we are at present
surrounded. The time passes very wearily away and the monotony is broken
only by the occasional receipt of a mail, which is brought us by a negro
through a long and circuitous channel which as yet remains unknown to
our enemies. We can get nothing from town except letters and papers and
many of these have been captured. A member of my company was the mail
carrier but he was taken prisoner with all our letters. Our provisions
are not varied but abundant for which I am thankful. We get no meat
except salt beef or pork which when eaten three times a day gets rather
unpalatable. We have a bakery in the garrison and our bread is always
fresh and excellent. Molasses and Peas complete the bill of fare. Our
mess have two pigs which we are saving for hard times. On the whole we
should not complain as our lot is comparatively an easy one, and
occupying this important key to Georgia, in the face of enemies, and in
daily danger is glory enough. The yankees are surrounding us with
batteries and arming them with guns of the heaviest calibre. At one time
they used to fire at us every day but for several days past their
silence has been curious. On Tybee they are erecting a series of earth
works within range of our pieces and if Col. Olmstead would give me
permission. the battery appropriated to me could knock them to pieces in
one day. This afternoon we heard cannonading and musketry on the
Carolina shore and our curiosity to know what it was is intense. You
will hear of it before we will and I trust our arms will have proven
victorious. A letter from Kati has reached me but I cannot answer it by
this mail please say so to her. |
| I am afraid that my business
will be entirely ruined by the war as the most profitable service of it
is now entirely cut off. I make the sacrifice cheerfully for the good of
my country and will start again at the foot of the bidder. It seems very
hard though that the fruits of the youth and vigor of ones life should
be so ruthlessly destroyed. If health and strength is spared me I can
fight the world as determinedly now as I did when life was beginning to
open fresh and beautiful before me. |
| The other afternoon while
walking with Capt Guilmaster and cheering him up with the assurance that
our friends in the state would relieve us soon. He remarked to me "If we
are ever delivered, it will be in answer to the prayers my wife is daily
offering up for me." It was a sublime instance of his faith in the
efficacy of prayer and brought vividly to my mind my, dear, good, sister
whose petitions in my behalf I know are unceasing. Do not wavier in your
beseechings for though the answer may be long in coming, it will come at
last. And our Lord who defendeth the right will order all for the best.
I suppose Willow is going to the Episcopal Sunday School and I trust
behaving herself properly. Poor thing, she has seen but little of me in
all her life and yet she loves me devotedly. When the war is over I hope
to have her with me all the time. Miss Padie seems to be pleased with
her and quite willing to assume so important trust. |
| Remember me to Mr. Payne and
kiss your children for me. Say to Lila that I will write her before
long. |
| Goodbye, it may be for a long time. |
| Your Affectionate brother |
| William |
| |
| {From the Calder W.
Payne Genealogical Collection, Middle Georgia Archives, Washington
Memorial Library, Macon Ga..} |